Mechanical door opening mechanism for garages



MECHANICAL DOOR OPENING MECHANISN'FOR GARAGES Filed May 10, 1954 Feb. 4, 1958 c. c. HERBERT 5 Sheets-Sheet l M. Y v? mw Feb 4, 1958 c. c. HERBERT 2,822,166

MECHANICAL DOOR OPENING MECHANISM FOR GARAGES Filed May 10, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/EN TOR.

(waff wafer 71W um irme/wy MECHANICAL DOOR OPENING MECHANISM FOR GARAGES Filed May 10, 1954 Feb. 4, 1958 c. c. HERBERT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. (waff f. #naar #MM QM* Uni lVIECHANICAL DOOR PENNG MECHANISM FOR GARAGES The presentinvention relates to mechanical door opening mechanisms for garages and is concerned more particularly with an improved construction of this character which can be utilized in connection with the garage doors which are mounted for movement to an overhead open position, either by means of pivoting or by means of a suitable track mechanism. l

It is a general object of the invention to provide a mechanical door opening mechanism for garages of a simple construction which can be mounted in place with a minimum of work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door opening mechanism of the above character which is constructed for mounting on a principal overhead frame member of a garage door opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door opening mechanism for garages in which the principal parts of the mechanism can be fabricated by means of suitable dies from sheet metal and conventional stock tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door opening mechanism which can be connected or detached quickly to the door to be controlled thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism in which an electric motor drive is provided which is mounted on the main frame of the door opening mechanism closely adjacent the principal place of support for the mechanism in the garage structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical door opening mechanism having advantageous control means for reversing of the mechanism in moving the door from open to closed position or vice versa.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the mechanism in place in a garage with the mechanism shown in the door closed position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan vieul of the mechanism shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the main frame of the door opening mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional View taken in a plane indicated by the lines 4 4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken in a plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the control mechanism and is taken in a plane indicated by the line 6 6 in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevational view of the door opening mechanism with the plane of the View indicated in part by the line 7 7 in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional `riew taken as indicated by the line 8 8 in Figure 7. v

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional View through the eX- arent:EL

M trememend of the door opening mechanism at the Vmost remote point from the rnain frame thereof, a

Figure 10 is an end elevational View of the outer end ofthe door opening mechanism. u

Figure 11 Ais a wiring diagram of the motor control'- circuit. u y

In many types of homes the garages include a wide door opening having a heavy beam structure spanning the openingaat the top and the garage door is mounted, for example intermediate its ends, or by a suitable track structure, to swing froma closed position to an overhead open position Within the garage. The present door opening mechanism is intended primarily for usewith this type of door. The garage structure illustrated yin the drawings includes a frame structure or overhead beam 20 (Figure 1) which spans the door opening in which theY door 21 is mounted and a suitable transverse frame member 22 which mayv be a rafter or other convenient member of the garage structure. Inasmuch as these elements of the garage construction are conventional in character, they are illustrated only fragmentarily herein.` Cooperating with the door and the frame is the door opening mechanism of the invention including amain frame 26 (Figures l, 2 and 3) which is adapted to be secured to the overhead beam 20 of the door opening, and as shown in Figure 3 the frame 26 is generally L-shaped and includes an upright plate structure 27 having an upper bent ange 28 and a lower bent ange r29. The frame 26 is also provided with four holes 31 in the plate structure 27 to receive suitable fastening bolts or lag screws for connection to the overhead beam 2t) as shown in Figure l. lntegrally secured to the vertical frame plate 27 is a vertical mounting structure 36 formed of sheet metal and having a lower bent flange 37 and upper rolled tubular section. These elements of the horizontally extending mounting structure are secured as by welding tothe plate 27.

The door opening mechanism also includes a tubular extension or track 41 (Figures l and 2) which is detachably mounted in the rolled tubular section 38 of the main frame and is adapted to be clamped therein by bolt members 42 (Figure 4) welded to the tubular portion 38 and extending through apertures 43 in the plate portion of the mounting structure and being threaded to receive clamping nuts 44. At the outer end of the tubular extension 41 there is provided an insert member 46 (Figures 1 and 9) which will be described in detail hereinafter and which is connected to the transverse frame member 22 by a suitable light bracing member 47 of Wood or other suitable material.

The tubular extension 41 (Figures l, 7 and 8) slidably carries a tubular traveler 48 fabricated of sheet metal and having depending ears 49 pivotally connected by a bolt 5l to a link 52 which at its other end is pivoted to a transverse pin 53 also pivoted in a parallel linkage 54 having a pivotal connection by a pin 56 at the other end to a pairof apertured ears 57 of a plate 58 adjustably mounted by a.

formed link 54 are provided with a stop extension55 which upon rocking of the latch 62 will engage the plate 58 before the link 52 and the link 54 reach a straight line position,- during pull by the traveler 48.4 Thspconditions the linkage to vbreak in the proper 4direction upon pushing The traveler 48 (Figures 1, 7 and 8) is also connected to an endless operating element which in this instance comprises a conventional link chain 71 having one stretch housed within the tubular mounting extension 41 and the other stretch extending ltherebeneath. The connection from the traveler 48 to the chain 41 is provided by respective punched teeth 72 of the two Sides of the tubular traveler 41, these teeth being formed in depending U-shaped ch-annel portions 73 at the opposite sides of the lower portion of the tubular member 48 and being spaced to receive the links of the chain 71. Two sets of teeth 72 are provided as seen in Figure 7 so that the chain 71 can be placed therein and the traveler 48 then slid over the tubular extension 41. In this way, the chain 71 is securely held in the channel portions 73 and in engagement with the teeth 72 and cannot be accidentally loosened therefrom. The ears 49 previously described are formed from the channel portion 73 being struck yout and formed downwardly therefrom. The chain 71 (Figures l and 9) at the outer end is trained about an idler sprocket 76 carried by a shaft 77 journalled in respective opposite ears 781 formed integrally with the tubular inser-t member 46 previously referred to, and this insert member has formed ears 79 (Figures 9 and l) which engage the end of the tubular extension 41 to determine the position of the member 46.

At its opposite end, the chain 71 (Figures l and 5) is trained about a drive sprocket 81 positioned within an opening 83 in the tubular portion 38 of the frame and journalled on a shaft 82 (Figures l, 2 land 5) which is mounted in the vertical plate portion of the mounting structure 36. This shaft 82 also carries a large pulleyr 86 (Figures l and 2) connected to the drive sprocket 81. The pulley 86 (Figures 1 and 2) is connected by a suitable V-belt 87 with a smaller pulley 88 journalled on a shaft 89 and having a second large pulley 91 secured thereto which is driven by a suitable belt 92 from the drive pulley 93 of the electric motor 94. In order to maintain tension of the belt 87, the shaft 89 (Figure l) for the pulley 88 is carried in a slot 96 of the plate 36 and is secured to a tightening strap 97 having a bent end 98 which is Iapertured and threaded to receive a tightening bolt 99 carried by an L-shaped lug 101 welded to the plate structure 36 of the horizontal extension of the frame.

The electric motor 94 (Figures 1 and 2) is of a conventional reversible type and is carried by a conventional U-shaped mounting 106 which is bolted to a motor mounting plate 107 carried by the main frame 26. At its upper end the motor mounting plate 107 (Figures 1, 2 land 3) has a pair lof extended bent ears 108 which are disposed pivotally in suitable slots 109 of the plate structure 27 and at its lower end the plate 107 is apertured to receive a hook-shaped ybolt 111 engaging in lan aperture 112 of the lower frame 29 and frame plate 26 and having an adjusting nut 113 secured thereon so that by tightening the nut 113 the motor mounting plate 107 can be pivoted about its upper mounting to tighten the belt `92.

Means is provided for disconnecting the mechanism from the garage door to permit manual opening and closing when desired. This means takes the form of a depending arm 121 pivoted on the traveler 48 and having a pin 123 underlying the drive link 52. It will be seen that movement of the arm 121 to the lett in Figure l will serve to lift the link 52 and move its notched end out of engagement with the pin 53.

The control mechanism for the door includes means responsive to the reaching of an end position by the door for conditioning the motor drive and its control circuit for reverse operation upon operation of a starting member or switch in a circuit. Referring to Figure l the traveler 48 has an apertured ear 131 slidably engaged with a rod 132. The rod 132 (Figures l, 2 and 6) is slidably mounted in the upright bracket extension 133 of the end insert member 46 at one end and at the other end is connected by a coupling 134 with a second control rod or member 136 slidably mounted in the apertured end plates 137 of a control housing 138 secured by suitable bolts on the main frame member. The control housing 138 is provided with a suitable cover 139. The control rod 132 (Figure l) carries a pair of adjustably secured limit collars 141 and 141a disposed to either side of the ear 131 so that the ear 131 will contact one of the collars upon reaching an end position and cause shifting movement of the rod 132 in one o r the other direction. As shown in Figure l the parts yare conditioned with the rod 132 displaced to the left by engagement of the ear 131 with the collar 141a.

Within the control housing 138 (Figure 6) the rod 136 carries a pair of spaced apart collars 146 and 146e a-t either side of a slidably mounted double flanged collar 147 disposed between two springs 14S and 148a. The limit positions of the ilanged collar 147 are determined by a pair of struck-up ears 149 in the bottom portion of the control housing 138. The flanged collar 147 'has disposed between |the flanges thereof the operating arm 151 of a conventional form of toggle switch 152 which is connected in the circuit as a reversing switch. With the arm 151 in the full line position as shown in Figure 6, the motor circuit will be conditioned for operation in one direction and with the arm 151 in its dotted line position the motor will be conditioned for operation in the opposite direction in accordance with conventional types of reversible electric motor` Within the control housing 138 (Figure 6) there is a second or limit switch 155 which serves to interrupt the circuit for the motor upon movement of the rod 136 at the end of the travel of the traveler 48 in either direction. The switch 155 has a spring type operating arm 156 which can be engaged with either of two raised portions 154 'of a collar 153 secured to the rod 136. in the position shown the circuit is interrupted by the engagement of the arm with one of the shoulders 154.

There is also provided in the circuit a suitable form of starting element or switch, which in this case is shown as a push button switch 157 whose closing functions to energize the starting -coils of the motor and -to cause an initial drive of the traveler 48 so as to release the rod 132, together with the rod 136, to move to the right under the urgency of the compressed spring 148. This initial movement of the rod 136 carries the collar 153 with it until the switch arm 156 of the limit switch 155 occupies an intermediate position between the shoulders 154 and thus enables continuation of the operation of the motor. During this continued operation the collar 147 is moved to right from the position shown in Figure 6 with one of its flanges engaged with the arm 151, but without eitecting operation of this switch arm. At the end of the door opening movement, the ear 131 of the traveler 48 (Figure l) will contact the collar 141 and move the rod 132 and the rod 136 to the right as shown in Figures l and 6 and this movement will serve to throw the toggle switch control arm 151 from the full line position to the dotted line position and to place the switch ram 156 of the switch 155 on the shoulder 154. thus causing the switch 155 to open the circuit. In this condition of the parts the drive is conditioned for closing movement of the door upon initiation of a cycle of operation 'by the switch 157. 1t will be noted that in this condition of the parts the spring 143a will be placed under compression and thereby stores energy, again quickly placing in operation the limit switch 155 at the start of the next operation.

Referring to Figure 11, one suitable wiring diagram is shown for connecting the limit switch 155, the reversing switch 152 and the starting switch 157 in circuit with the electric motor 94. It will be understood that this elecs tric motor is of a type wherein the starting coils are placed in circuit only below a given speed, and in which the reverse control can be preset during operation and will take elect only when the motor slows down or is stopped.

In the actual operation of opening the door, the rst movement of the traveler 48 as the drive starts and the chain 71 begins to travel, is a pull on the link 52 to swing the latch bellcrank 62 from the full position shown thereof in Figure 7 to the dotted line position, thereby releasing the door from the latch and freeing it for opening movement. Subsequent movement of the traveler 48 and the link 52 effects opening movement of the door until it is swung or travels completely to its horizontal overhead open position. During a return movement of the traveler 48 a pushing engagement of the link 52, and the latch 62 will be returned initially to the condition of the parts shown in full lines in Figure 7, although not engaged with the latch 63. When the door reaches its fully lowered position, the latch bellcrank 62 will snap over the latch 63 and the parts are restored to the condition shown in Figure 7.

While l have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that the invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical door opening mechanism for garages, a main frame comprising a vertically disposed plate having means for attachment to an overhead beam structure over the door opening of the garage, said main frame also including tubular support means projecting horizontally from said plate and connected thereto to be supported thereon, a tube received in said tubular support means, means for clamping said tube in said means, said tube projecting horizontally and rearwardly from the door opening, a motor mounted on said main frame, a traveler mounted on said tube, a chain having one stretch extending through a portion of said tube and its other stretch extending therebeneath, said chain being connected to said traveler, means for driving said chain from said motor, and means extending from said traveler for connection to the door.

2. In a mechanical door opening mechanism for garages, a main frame comprising a iirst vertically disposed plate having connecting stations for attachment to the overhead beam structure of the garage above the door, said main frame also including a second vertically disposed plate connected to and extending at right angles to said first plate, said second plate having an edge formed as tubular clamping means, a tube received in said tubular clamping member and projecting horizontally rearwardly from the door opening, a motor mounted on said main frame, a traveler mounted on said tube, a chain having one stretch extending through a portion of said tube and another portion extending therebeneath, said chain being connected to said traveler, means for driving said chain from said motor, and a control link extending from said traveler for connection to a door.

3. In a mechanical door opening mechanism for garages, a frame having a traveler slidably mounted thereon, a reversible motor on said frame, control means for said reversible motor including a pair of spaced limit stops engageable by said traveler at the respective ends of its back and forth movement, a reversing switch of the set type for controlling said reversible motor, a re* versing switch control element under control of said limit stops, respective spring means urging said switch control element to a central position, one of said spring means being biased in an end position of said traveler, a limit switch having means controlled by said limit stops for opening said limit switch in either end position of said traveler and for closing said switch when said traveler is away from an end position thereof, and a starting switch for said motor for momentarily causing operation thereof to move said traveler out of an end position, said biased spring means being rendered active to cause quick closing of said operating limit switch and thereby continued operation of said motor.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,058 McCloud Feb. 9, 1937 2,309,984 Rogers Feb. 2, 1943 2,401,082 Konter May 28, 1946 2,545,775 Hall Mar. 20, 1951 2,567,029 Sauter Sept. 4, 1951 2,589,479 Curtis Mar. 18, 1952 2,589,480 Curtis Mar. 18, 1952 2,687,297 Miller Aug. 24, 1954 2,690,908 Coit Oct. 5, 1954 2,703,235 Reamey Mar. 1, 1955 

